Pair fail game show's drug test, lose money

By AINSLEY THOMSON

Two contestants desperate to win cash on the TV2 game show The Chair have tested positive for drugs and lost their prizemoney.

Contestants are attached to a heart monitor and bombarded with questions by host Matthew Ridge.

If contestants answer correctly without their heart rate exceeding a pre-determined range, they win money and stay in the game. But if their heart rate is too high, their winnings slowly disappear.

Three men have returned positive drug tests since the programme began last month.

Touchdown Productions head Julie Christie said one man had proved the positive result was due to other medication he was taking.

But two men, a company director who won $5000 and a manager who won $3100, both from Auckland, had no plausible explanations.

It is thought they used beta blockers to stabilise their heart rates.

They have lost their winnings, and the shows they are in will not air.

All contestants are drug-tested before the show, and winners are also tested afterwards.

Ms Christie said she was shocked the pair had tried to cheat because they were warned about the tests.

She said that in the United States, where the programme is hosted by former tennis great John McEnroe, contestants were drug-tested five times and one in eight had been banned for testing positive to marijuana. High levels of caffeine and nicotine were also banned.